Aroostook

Aroostook typically refers to Aroostook County, the northernmost and largest county by area in the state of Maine, United States. The name comes from the Aroostook River, with origins in the region’s Indigenous languages. The county lies along the Canadian border, sharing a boundary with New Brunswick, and forms part of the Saint John River watershed. Its landscape is largely rural, consisting of forests, farmland, and small towns, with agriculture especially prominent in the potato belt.

Historically, the area was inhabited by Indigenous peoples such as the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq. In the 1830s, a border dispute between the United States and Britain, known as the Aroostook War, prompted negotiations that culminated in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which established the modern boundary.

Economy and culture: Aroostook is renowned for potato production and farming, alongside forestry and related manufacturing. Regional centers include towns such as Presque Isle, Fort Kent, Madawaska, Caribou, and Houlton. The county has a substantial Francophone heritage, with French-speaking communities and institutions alongside English-speaking ones.

Education and infrastructure: The region hosts institutions such as the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Northern Maine Community College. Transportation includes major highways like U.S. Route 1 and several state routes, with cross-border activity at border towns.

Demographics and contemporary life: The county has a predominantly rural character with a population of about 68,000, reflecting a mix of agricultural vitality and outdoor recreation that shapes its economy and culture.